HOW TO LEARN TO SHOOT. 141 



After this, almost every thing is acquired that is 

 needed. Constant practice, and careful attention and 

 observation, must make every one, who has got thus far, 

 one day or other a good shot. 



He must know from his teacher, and learn from his 

 own observation, that in order to hit objects rapidly cross- 

 ing him, going from him, or coming toward him, he must 

 shoot in advance of them in order to hit above them, if 

 they be ascending, below them, if they be falling. 



The allowance to be made will vary in proportion to 

 the distance of the object from the shooter, and the veloc- 

 ity at which it is travelling, when he fires. For it must 

 be remembered that the shot, which is propelled from his 

 barrel the fraction of a second after he pulls the trigger, 

 has to travel a considerable distance, from twenty to fifty 

 yards or upward, before it can reach the object, which, 

 unless it be progressing before it in a direct line, will have 

 changed its position, and will be some inches more or less 

 in advance of the place at which it seemed to be station- 

 ary, when the sight was taken. 



What this change may be, is uncertain ; for calculat- 

 ing it, no rule can be given. According to the velocity of 

 the object, the force and direction of the wind, and twenty 

 other chance circumstances, it will vary, so that hardly in 

 two instances will the variation coincide. Yet habit, 

 practice, and deliberate observation will so far conquer all 

 difficulties, that a crack shot, with a bird, or birds cross- 

 ing him at any distance from fifteen to fifty paces, with 

 or against a positive gale, will instinctively and without a 

 pause calculate the allowance to be made, pitch up his 



